Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
wine reviews are a pair of wines from the FRESH brand produced by Diamond Estates.
The focus on FRESH is about fun, creative wines for wine drinkers who want to explore and try something different. The two wines reviewed below fit into the brand very nicely as the Riesling/Gewürztraminer blend and the Sparkling Wine made with Riesling are both relatively uncommon in the wine world.
These wines, among others in the FRESH line are available at the LCBO. However, you can order a case online at FRESHwines.ca and have it delivered to your door in Ontario for FREE when you use promo code FRESHHoliday and enjoy these wines over the holidays!
Tasting Notes:
FRESH IDEAS SPARKLING RIESLING 2014 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#441162) (M) - $15.95
Lemon, honeysuckle, and wildflower aromas with a honeyed character from the cork. Honeyed citrus and floral aromas are somewhat muted in the glass. More honeyed citrus, orange and floral flavours on the medium sweet palate. Bubbles are nicely articulated. Sweetness is cut by bright, crisp acids and finishes on the dry side. Score: 87 pts
FRESH OPPORTUNITIES RIESLING GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#572156) (D) - $12.95
A blend of 60% Riesling and 40% Gewürztraminer. Screw cap. Low-medium intensity nose featuring ripe peach, citrus with a bit of earthy funkiness at the tail end. Off-dry on the palate with more peach and citrus flavours. Acids are sharp, but has a nice chalky mineral texture. Good length on the finish. Score: 86 pts
I opened up this easy drinking Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy.
This wine is produced by Cantina Lamberti, a winery that was established in 1964 and is named after one of the oldest noble families of Verona. The grapes for this wine were harvested from Trentino and Veneto vineyards along the Adige Valley in Northern Italy, and were picked during the last 10 days of September.
It is readily available at LCBO locations throughout the province and is made in a crowd-pleasing and versatile style, which will make it suitable for your holiday gatherings. It's also budget-friendly, retailing for just $11.95 until .
Tasting Note:
LAMBERTI SANTEPIETRE PINOT GRIGIO 2015 - IGT Venezie, Italy (#560524) (XD) - $11.95
Screw cap. Lemony fresh aromas with a whiff of minerality on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with candied citrus, lemon, along with hints of white flowers and saline. Lemony acids are fresh and juicy, while the finish has fine length with a touch of saline character. Serve nicely chilled. Good value. Score: 87 pts
The upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release on will be on shelves this and is another mono-thematic release featuring top wines for Holiday Dinners. This is also the final release of 2016, so if you need something for the holidays, now would be the time to stock up as the next release will be a week into 2017.
Featured in this release are 25 wines for holiday dinners. Among these wines, only 5 are included among my wine picks. Begin your holiday dinner or gathering with a Champagne from Marc Hébrart, followed by the La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. In red wines, you can offer the Old Vines Cabernet/Merlot (from 30-year-old vines, blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot) from Niagara's own Château des Charmes or you can go all out and pour Ornellaia's flagship wine that is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. Lastly, you can end your dinner with a vintage Tawny Port that is 14 years old.
In red wines from the rest of the release, the Beaujolais is of course a Gamay, but comes from vines planted in 1940. The Château Bertin is 100% Merlot, while the 2010 Bordeaux is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Also, both wines from Piedmont are made with 100% Nebbiolo.
In white wines, the Creekside Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is actually barrel-fermented in new & used oak and will only be available Flagship Store Exclusive (FSE) locations. The Stratus White is a unique blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier. For sweet wine lovers, the latest edition of Vineland Estates' Elevation St. Urban Riesling is your best bet, or, if you prefer even sweeter, check out the Tokaji or Icewine.
Enjoy your holidays with my wine picks and see you in 2017!
Red Wine:
DOMAINE DUPRÈ VIGNES DE 1940 BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2014 - AC, France (#468710) (XD) - $16.95
VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2015 - Leyda Valley, Chile (#404210) (XD) - $17.95 reviewed here
LOUIS LATOUR DOMAINE DE VALMOISSINE PINOT NOIR 2013 - IGP Var, Provence, France (#714451) (XD) - $19.95 reviewed here
CHÂTEAU BERTIN 2014 - AC Lussac St-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#244046) (D) - $19.95 reviewed here
SAN PEDRO 1865 SINGLE VINEYARD CARMENÈRE 2014 - Maule Valley, Chile (#249201) (XD) - $19.95 reviewed here
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES OLD VINES CABERNET/MERLOT 2012 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#222372) (XD) - $21.95
wine was released into VINTAGES last Spring and will be back as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on .
This wine is produced by La Crema, a winery emphasizing boutique, small-batch winemaking and a commitment to sustainability. I had the opportunity to visit this Sonoma winery in October and will be reporting on this in the near future - stay tuned.
The fruit for this wine comes from various vineyards across the diverse region of Sonoma Coast, including the Laghlin, Fulton, Ramal, Saralee's, Shiloh and Kelli Ann vineyards. The vintage was very good, with the weather co-operating beautifully by offering ample sunshine to achieve optimal ripeness and flavour development, while the cooling breezes maintained vibrant acidity. The wine spent 7 months in barrel, mostly French and some American, 18% new.
Tasting Note:
LA CREMA SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY 2014 - Sonoma Coast, California, USA (#962886) (XD) - $29.95
Aromas of peach, stone fruit and apple with a twist honey from the cork. Lovely medium+ intensity ripe apple, lemon citrus, pear, butterscotch, sweet vanillan oak aromas with a whiff of mineral at the tail end. The rich palate is medium-full bodied with bright, balanced acids. It's dry with pleasing aroma replays and hints of lemon peel. Moderate use of oak is nicely integrated. Well-balanced overall. Hints of mineral linger on the long finish. Finely crafted, deserves rich seafood or pair with poultry. Enjoy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 90 pts
wine review is another sneak preview of a wine that will be in LCBO VINTAGES on .
This red wine is produced by Vignobles Jean-Bernard Saby & Fils, a family-owned winery with a winemaking history dating back to the 18th Century and spanning 9 generations.
The grapes for this wine come from Château Bertin, within the town of Lussac, on the right bank, approximately 45 kilometres from the city of Bordeaux. The plot of land where these grapes were grown are near the centre of village, next to a school and bordering the house of Château Haut Brion. The vineyard is south-facing and has extraordinary potential.
Tasting Note:
CHÂTEAU BERTIN 2014 - AC Lussac St-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#244046) (D) - $19.95
100% Merlot that was hand-harvested and matured in oak for 12 months. Wet earth, forest floor, plum and whiffs of incense aromas from the cork. Ripe black cherry, cassis aromas followed by notions of milk chocolate, herbs and vanilla oak of medium intensity. Medium-bodied with a soft, plush mouthfeel and dusty tannins that become chalkier with air. Acids are juicy. Black cherry, currant, cocoa, milk chocolate, and cedar oak flavours, finishing long with earthy notes. Will be a fine match over the holidays with poultry or red meats. Score: 88 pts
The 2015 vintage in Rueda was marked by a lack rain, causing a delay in sprouting by 15 days and resulting in lower than usual yields. However, due to the large root development of the vineyards, the vines were able to withstand one of the driest growing seasons in many years. Furthermore, no chemical treatments were applied to the vines this year.
Surprisingly, this delicious white wine is still currently available at the LCBO, even though it was released through VINTAGES on September 3.
Tasting Note:
BODEGAS HERMANOS DEL VILLAR ORO DE CASTILLA 2015 - DO Rueda, Spain (#745562) (XD) - $15.95
Screw cap. 100% Verdejo fermented in stainless steel tanks. Aromas of medium-high intensity featuring a mix that dances between tropical fruits, guava, herbs and earthy notes. The dry palate medium bodied and fleshy with lemon/lime, grassy, herbs, and ripe tropical fruits framed by vibrant acids. Finish length is very good. Perhaps not quite as fragrant as the 2014, but every bit as delicious. Serve this nicely chilled with salads, pasta, seafood, or poultry dishes. Score 88 pts
The upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release on is titled "A Fine Romance" and features 29 fine wines and spirits that are splurge-worthy for the holidays. Wines from this release will be on shelves this coming .
Leaving out the spirits, there are 25 wines included in this mono-thematic release, and a full 9 are included among my wine picks. A local red wine that is on this list is the impressive Stratus Red from the very good 2012 vintage that's made with traditional Bordeaux varietals. From South America, there is the Catena Alta Malbec from Argentina, and Chilean icon wine Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon that also contains 7% Cabernet Franc. The legendary Sassicaia is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, while the Amarone consists of traditional grapes (70%) Corvina Veronese and Corvinone, (25%) Rondinella, (5%) Molinara. Other single-varietal wines include the Dead Arm Shiraz and the Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from Beringer.
Among non-red wines, the splurge-worthy white wine is a multi-site mountain vineyard Kistler Chardonnay. In sparkling wine, the Bollinger Champagne - which is available in 2 sizes in this release - consists of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Pinot Meunier.
Other sparkling wines that are also in this Release include a dry version that is almost equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from South Africa, while the Le Mesnil Champagne is 100% Chardonnay. Lastly, the Vouvray is a slightly off-dry style (i.e. a touch sweet) and made with Chenin Blanc. In white wines, the Hermit Crab for 2015 is a crisp blend of 58% Viognier and 42% Marsanne.
In red wine recommendations, the Borsao Bole is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, while the Rioja is 100% Tempranillo. The 2010 Bordeaux is a returnee to VINTAGES and is a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. From Portugal, the Mondego is a blend of 88% Touriga Nacional, 5% Tinta Roriz, 5% Alfrocheiro and 2% Jaen, while the Torbreck is an unoaked blend of 85% Grenache, 8% Shiraz and 7% Mataro with vines ranging from 40 to 150 years old.
This is the second last release of 2016 - so you might want to stock up now. Enjoy my wine picks from this release! Cheers!
Red Wine:
BORSAO BOLE 2013 - DO Campo de Borja, Spain (#471565) (XD) - $15.95
Saturday, December 10, 2016
